My chicken is panting like crazy in her nesting box

[21hens-incharge]

I use this shade cloth.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Easy-Gardener-Shade-Fabric-By-the-Foot/3037772

I have had the same cloth for 7 years and it is still going strong. Best investment I ever made for chicken comfort.

Air and water flow through with no problem. If I need an area to have heavier shade I double it up.

I take it down before snow happens so it doesn't get stretched out.

Just got all my shade cloths up yesterday, added another this year...
....am always torn between the much needed shade and the reduced air flow.
I have some 70% and the new 90%...both air and rain goes thru, but air flow is reduced making it stuffy when humid unless wind is coming from the 'right' direction.


I've used tarps too, total shade but no airflow, and watch out for rain runoff or worse rain collection.

Left most is new cloth, tarp there last year was a disaster every time it rained I had to go take it down.
View attachment 1841275

Let me clarify what I wrote up there.

In 7 years I have not had water pool on a shade cloth nor have I had one billow up or catch the wind.

 

[chickens really]

Oh my...

 

[aart]

They look like tiny body builders!

have had the same thought!!

 

[GoatDragonFarms]

The responses here are part of the reason I love this site! So many useful ideas!

 

[Ptera]

Chickens can die from overheating. I used to work at the County fair in the "chicken department." Temps were often in the 90s. To save their lives I had to often hose down some chickens with water. I can say I brought many back from the brink of death and never lost a single bird during my watch. When it's hot they need access to plenty of clean water to drink, too.

 

[TXchickmum]

During the summer (here in scorching Texas), I use a mister and fan to keep the gals cool in the run. Also, if you keep a large waterer, you can freeze water bottles or an empty half gallon milk jug with water and place in the waterer. -keeps the water cool, and the hens like to stand next to it. I keep all the windows/doors open to the coop, and have two large fans going toward the nest boxes all day. -helps move the air. Some hens are very picky about their nesting, and others hop on and off the nest quickly. I have one 8-yr-old gal that just goes up there to sit - no egg - just perch. She is my heaviest hen, and I have to put ice water underneath her wings at times (while she's on the nest). Anyway, best of luck with your flock!

 

[MomJones]

Just got all my shade cloths up yesterday, added another this year...
....am always torn between the much needed shade and the reduced air flow.
I have some 70% and the new 90%...both air and rain goes thru, but air flow is reduced making it stuffy when humid unless wind is coming from the 'right' direction.


I've used tarps too, total shade but no airflow, and watch out for rain runoff or worse rain collection.

Left most is new cloth, tarp there last year was a disaster every time it rained I had to go take it down.
View attachment 1841275

Good point. Our run is completely "roofed" with chicken wire--stretched and secured. Husband is a master carpenter (yay!). So all I had to do was lay the tarp where I wanted it. Rain has no effect on it, barring a tornado and then all bets are off.